The quantification of facial expression in pain and depression: A preliminary study

A Facial Measurement Programme based on a mathematical model of the face was used in the quantification and comparison of the facial expressions of a group of chronic pain patients and a group of psychiatric in-patients with major depression. Twelve facial measures were obtained which represent the distances between key facial landmarks. Significant group differences were found with regard to brow-lowering, mouth width, mouth-opening, top-lip thickness and narrowing of the eyes. These findings are consistent with those obtained using other scoring techniques, namely the Facial Action Coding System. Facial Expression Measurement appears to offer a more time-efficient